Kirby was a small forward and is the earliest known player to have kicked a goal with his first kick in the VFL, scored in 1911; this achievement would not be made again for nine years, when Gordon Coventry, an AFL Legend of the Australian Football Hall of Fame replicated the feat in 1920. Kirby had a good start to his career from a team point of view as well, not experiencing a loss until his 15th game. Kirby topped Essendon's goalkicking table in 1912, with 43 goals, and again the following season when he kicked 29 goals. He was a member of Essendon's premiership teams in 1911 and 1912.[2]
References
^Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Bas Publishing. p. 484. ISBN978-1-921496-32-5.